With Halloween behind us, the holiday season is officially on its way, and that means gifts. Unfortunately, it also means a mountain of wrapping paper, ribbons and tape that often ends up in the bin within minutes of being opened.
Many popular wrapping papers are hard to recycle because they’re coated, metallic, glittery or laminated. The good news is that low-waste wrapping can look just as beautiful, and it’s often cheaper. Here are eight ideas to try this year.
1. Try fabric wrapping
The Japanese tradition of furoshiki uses a square of cloth, folded and knotted, to wrap gifts of almost any shape. You can use scarves, tea towels, bandanas or fabric offcuts. A quick online search for furoshiki folding techniques will show you several simple knots.
The best part is that the wrap becomes part of the gift, or can be handed back and reused next year.
2. Reuse what you already have
Before buying anything, look around your home. Maps, old calendars, sheet music, children’s artwork, magazines and brown paper from deliveries can all make charming, one-of-a-kind wrapping.
Paper shopping bags can be cut open and turned inside out for a plain kraft-paper look.
3. Choose recyclable paper if you buy new
If you do buy wrapping paper, look for plain or recycled paper without foil, glitter or plastic coatings. A simple test: if you scrunch it into a ball and it stays scrunched, it’s more likely to be recyclable. Always check your local recycling rules, as they vary.
4. Swap tape and plastic ribbon
Plastic tape and curling ribbon complicate recycling. Instead, try:
- Natural twine, string or yarn.
- Fabric ribbons that can be saved and reused.
- Paper tape, which can usually go in the recycling with the paper.
- Clever folding that holds itself together, with no tape at all.
5. Decorate with nature
Skip the plastic bows. A sprig of rosemary, a few pine needles, a cinnamon stick, dried orange slices or a small pinecone tucked under twine looks festive and smells lovely. Most of these can be composted afterwards.
6. Make the container part of the gift
Some packaging does double duty. Wrap a baking gift in a mixing bowl, put bath items in a reusable basket, or place a cookbook inside a new tea towel. A glass jar works perfectly for homemade treats.
7. Start a gift bag loop
Gift bags are easy to reuse. Save the ones you receive, store them flat, and pass them on next year. Some families keep a “gift bag box” that circulates between relatives every season, so the same bags come back again and again.
8. Reuse and save after unwrapping
The greenest wrapping is the wrapping you already own. After gifts are opened, smooth out and fold good paper, roll up ribbons and keep tissue paper for next year. Set a box aside before the celebrations start so everything has somewhere to go.
A quick guide to what goes where
- Plain paper and cardboard: usually recyclable. Remove tape and ribbons first.
- Glitter, foil or metallic paper: often not recyclable. Avoid buying it, or reuse it.
- Natural decorations: compost if your local system accepts them.
- Ribbons and bows: save and reuse.
Rules differ between areas, so it’s worth a quick check with your local council or waste service.
Getting the family on board
Low-waste wrapping is easier when everyone is involved. Kids can decorate brown paper with stamps or drawings, which makes the wrapping personal and turns it into a fun activity. You can also let relatives know you’re happy to receive gifts in reused bags or fabric, which takes the pressure off everyone.
The wrap-up
Beautiful gifts don’t have to come with a bin full of waste. Use fabric, reuse what you have, choose plain paper, skip the plastic and decorate with nature. Your presents will stand out under the tree, and you’ll start the new year with a little less rubbish.
Image: Christmas gifts or presents by Bim24 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0
